The U.S. State Department says Syria is at risk of missing the June 30 deadline for getting rid of its chemical weapons.
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Friday that Syria is "woefully" behind schedule for destroying the chemicals. She said the United States, however, will press Syria to take steps to speed up the process so the deadline could still be met.
Psaki said as of Friday, less than one-third of Syria's chemical weapons materials have been moved out of the country and that the government has missed two intermediate milestones.
Syria agreed to scrap its chemical weapons to avoid a possible military strike from the United States after an August chemical weapons attack on civilians outside Damascus. More than 1,400 people were killed.
Syria blamed the attack on rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Friday that Syria is "woefully" behind schedule for destroying the chemicals. She said the United States, however, will press Syria to take steps to speed up the process so the deadline could still be met.
Psaki said as of Friday, less than one-third of Syria's chemical weapons materials have been moved out of the country and that the government has missed two intermediate milestones.
Syria agreed to scrap its chemical weapons to avoid a possible military strike from the United States after an August chemical weapons attack on civilians outside Damascus. More than 1,400 people were killed.
Syria blamed the attack on rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.